Forgotten Sonata

By Ryokoluv17

"Smile while you still have teeth." An abrasive, yet familiar voice spoke nearby.

"There is nothing to smile about, after all, you did kick me out of your hospital room to spend time with your estranged daughter." Ryoko bit back sharply, gulping down the cup of green tea.

"So vengeful." Washu proceeded to quietly snivel beside her.

"Don't pester me. Not in the mood, mom." Ryoko murmurs coldly resting her chin in her palm.

Washu sympathetically looked to her daughter and pouted pretentiously resting her balled fists against her cheeks, "It's only been a week, sweetie." She reaches out to stroke Ryoko's hair. A few staff walked by stifling their amusement at the duo. "Just as we experience seasonal changes in weather, it is the same for marriages. You just have to weather the storm. Are you going to finish that?" Washu points to the remnants of ramen in the bowl. Ryoko slides the bowl over watching the petite woman devour the half-empty bowl.

"Cheapskate," Ryoko muttered.

"It is all about being frugal! Anyway, if you asked me—But I didn't," Washu began only to have been cut short by her worked up daughter.

Ryoko groans seeing the look Washu gave, "Fine…Mother, what should I do?" She feigned sweetly.

"Glad you asked! I got just the thing!" Washu searched her pockets for her writing pad and pen. "I prescribe you, thirty days of communal interactions" She rose from the bench finding that they had drawn a lot more attention than expected, she cleared her throat and glowered at her daughter. "No time to sulk around, Volunteer O'Hara! Eat now, taste later! We have a productive day ahead of us. Get your act together young lady! Hey what you all looking at this is not a show, same goes for all of you!" Ryoko faintly smiles folding the paper in half and tucking it into her breast pocket. Welcome back mother.

…

Across town, in a two-story warehouse, Tenchi finishes up auditing the end of year reports.

"I can hear a pen drop in this entire building. What is eating at you son?" Nobuyuki peered up from the newspaper, after watching Tenchi rest back into the chair heavily sighing.

Tenchi pushes aside the stack of leaflets and turns to his father. "The Wandering Eye…"

"The Wandering eye, what about it son?"

"Have you ever looked at another woman, when you were with mom?"

"Son, that's preposterous!" Nobuyuki chuckled briefly, then bashfully looked up at his son, "Of course, I did. What did your mother say? Did she mention that to you?! I hope she did not take that to the grave! I didn't think she noticed!" Nobuyuki raved.

"Dad stop, mother never mentioned it!" Tenchi sighs, "Forget I ever asked." He picks up the stack transferring it to a crate.

"Son, it is normal for a married man to find another woman attractive. Unless…" Nobuyuki trailed off, giving the side eye.

"I can't seem to shake my feelings off. I am very attracted to her, she is always on my mind." Tenchi rested back on the wooden table.

"She must be a bombshell to leave you with such anxiety. Have you brought this up to Ayeka at least?" Nobuyuki pushed the specs up on the bridge of his nose.

"Of course, not dad…she will kill me and her. It's inconceivable the impression she leaves on me every time we meet as if she puts a spell on me."

"Tenchi, just exactly how many times have you two meet?" Nobuyuki became stern.

"Come on Dad, please help me. I actually never felt this way about Ayeka. Never felt this way about anyone." He flops down on the workbench, dejectedly. "I know it is wrong, but I can't stop myself. It is almost an addiction."

"That can be very serious. I would suggest you see a psychologist about the matter. In fact, take the afternoon off and run over to the hospital. I have to take care of a few things here anyway. Go on, I'll be alright."

…

Ryoko collected the expended medicine cups placing them on to the trays. Holding in her sentiments, she glances at the clock, if only its hands would scuttle away to seventeen hundred just by a look. Ryoko shoves the tray onto the housekeeping cart and strolls out to the cool corridor. Resting her arms on the window sill, her mind was deluged with her last interaction with a particular brown eyed boy. Since the devious planning of her birthday party, it was the last time she saw Tenchi and Ayeka. With Hotsuma away she was left with the fiends' lonesomeness and uncertainty…which began to turn into a longing for a covet of that familiar feeling of warmth and caressing against skin. Lust. Carnal desires. Her heart pounded rapidly, as her index finger trace alongside her face to her lips. She quickly snapped back into reality catching a brief request coming from the loudspeaker. "Few more hours…" She turns to walk back into the ward.

…

Tenchi peeks from the corner of the hospital hallway after his sights landed on Ryoko deep in thought. In spite of how much he wanted to approach her, the sullen look written across her face left him still. Hearing the door lock in place, he eases away from the corner and made a break for it passing the door. He made it through the bridge to the Clinical Psychology Department. He heaves a sigh and balled his fist to knock. Debating on what to do, his balled fist remained erected upon hearing a rich feminine voice called out from the inside.

"I can see you, dear, come on in!" Tenchi peeks his head in timidly. He bows from his spot. "What brings you in today?"

"I…uh…not sure how to speak of it," Tenchi admitted scratching the back of his head.

"Well, you came to the right place!" Washu spins around motioning for him to take a seat.

"Dr. Hakubi?!"

"Hello Mr. Masaki," She places the notepad and pen onto the table. "How may I help you?"

"Welcome back! Well, it is a bit complicated. Maybe I should speak to someone else about this," He started to rise from the chair.

"Someone like who, Mr. Masaki? Were you expecting to speak about your matter to a male doctor? I am just as qualified, you know. Hence, the position and name on the billboard. Front and Center" She snickers.

"Have a seat, Mr. Masaki." She kindly said.

"Right." Tenchi slowly returns to his seat, "Forgive me, Dr. Hakubi. I guess I'll begin." Tenchi proceeded to speak of his matter.

After Tenchi gave his lengthy account, Washu sat groping for words to say. She stared at her notes, "Safe to say that this person is of value to you. Safe to also assume that this woman fills you up when you are empty... and when they are gone, you can't seem to function, everything seems to shut down..." She observes him with narrowed eyes. "Is that exactly what you are experiencing?"

"Couldn't be more exact. Can you prescribe something? What can I do?" Tenchi almost pleaded.

"There are a few things, though I must inform you this is going to be a lengthy process and will involve medication to assist you."

"I'm all ears." Tenchi retorts with a nod.

…

"The place gives me the creeps," Ryoko mutters under her breath hugging herself. "Guess I would speak to mom. Beats going home to an empty house." She makes her way across the bridge, and to the doorway of her mother's office. She hears a muffled voice on the other side of the door and places her ear against it.

"Here is a thirty-day supply of Venlafaxine, it helps with anxiety. You may experience side effects such as nausea, sleep problems…but nothing major. We will start off with a low dose, hoping for improvement." Washu tilts her head and glances behind Tenchi finding a shadow cast at the bottom of the doorway. "Are there any other concerns, questions you might have?"

"No. Thank you, Dr. Hakubi." Tenchi pocketed the medication quickly and rose. Washu guided him to the door, only to place her arm up barring him briefly. "Huh?"

Washu opens the door, watching in amusement as Ryoko staggered forward.

"This hospital holds patient confidentiality as precedence. Now, we do not want to violate that, do we, Mrs. O'Hara?"

"No…it's not what you think. It was nothing, I will be going now" Ryoko briefly looks to Tenchi as she bows and walked off.

Washu turns to Tenchi placing her hand on his forearm, "Best you catch up to her. It is pretty late for her to go home at this time," Washu muttered pushing him out to the corridor.

…

After finally catching up to her, the two strides alongside the other quietly. Eventually, Tenchi grew tired of the awkwardness between them and reached out for her shoulder.

"Ryoko…" Tenchi began.

"Why were you with my mother?" Ryoko glares at him.

"It is hard to explain…"

"Does she know about…" Ryoko steps closer.

"Of course not. It is a matter that only I can deal with." Tenchi admitted, tightening his hold on the medication bottle in his pocket. Recalling Washu's instructions he found that creating a distance between them would be a great start to begin his treatment. Ryoko frowns at his move.

"Matter?" Ryoko touches his forearm.

"Ryoko, please don't…touch me." His heart began to thump hard against the walls of his chest. The urge to want to take her increased. He removes her hand hastily walking away. Not wanting to put an end to this matter, Ryoko followed behind him, taking his hand. She pulls him to a nearby taxi and pushing him inside.

"What are you doing?" Tenchi asked watching as Ryoko places their clasped hands on her lap.

"We need to talk…alone," Ryoko admitted turning to look out the window. Tenchi looks to her before resting back into the seat. He made no effort to remove his hand.

…

A/N: Is it getting hot in here? Or what? Lol Stay tuned and don't forget to leave a review!